Wire stretcher device



Aug- 7,- l951 H. M. MONTGOMERY v 2,563,129

.WIRE STRETCHER DEVICE Filed Dec. 5, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 7, 1951 stares PAT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in wire stretching devices and refers more particularly to a type of stretcher for use in stretching clothes lines. An object of my improved stretcher is to provide a device of the kind mentioned that is simple, easy and inexpensive to make and buy.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the kind mentioned that is extremely effective in its work, one that is exceptionally strong, long lived and durable as well as being neat in appearance. These and other objects will be more fully described and explained as this description progresses.

Now referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar numerals of reference designate the same parts throughout the several gures oi the drawings:

Fig. l is a top plan view of my improved stretcher.

Fig. 2 is a side View of the stretcher, the view being as seen from the line II-II in Fig. l, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the stretcher, the view being as seen from the line III-III in Fig. l, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a front view of the stretcher, parts being broken away for convenience of illustration.

Fig. 5 is a rear View of the stretcher device.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the stretcher.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a portion of a clothes line cross bar of a clothes line post and showing my improved stretcher mounted thereon and having one end of a clothes line attached thereto in position for being stretched by the stretcher.

In the drawings the stretcher device is shown as having a U-shaped frame I0. The central portion of the loop portion of the U has a hole? I I therethrough for attachment purposes as will later be described. The outer end of each leg I2 and I3 are provided with aligned and registering holes Ill and I5.

Between the legs I2 and I3 and in axial alignment with the holes I4 and I5 is a tubular element, a piece of pipe I5, the inside diameter of which is slightly less than that of the holes I4 and I5.

A square bar I1 is loosely passed through and is revolvable in the holes I4 and I5 and is tightly pressed in and through the tube I6 so that the ends of the bar I1 project beyond the outside face of each leg of the U-shaped frame Ill. The tube I6 and bar I1 having been thus assembled between and through the legs I2 and I3 of the U- shaped frame I0, holes I8, I9 and 20 are drilled through one end of the tube I6 and square bar I1 to provide an aligned passage for the reception of one end of a clothes line Wire 2| which may be wrapped around or wound on the tube I@ for stretching purposes as will later be described.

The device is provided with a ratchet plate 22. one end of which is pivotally mounted on the frame leg I3 at the point 23. The other end of the ratchet plate 22 is provided with a right angle notch 24 that is adapted to receive and t the square corners of the bar I1 to prevent clockwise rotation of the bar I1 and tube I6.

In Fig. 'l is shown a cross bar 25 of a clothes line post indicated by the dotted circle 26. A plurality of wire stretchers may be attached to the cross bar 25 for stretching several lines. The stretchers are attached to the cross bar 25 by passing a bolt 21 through the hole Il in the U- shaped frame IIl and then passing the bolt 21 through holes in the cross bar 25 and then threading a nut 28 on the bolt 2l' to rigidly bind and hold the stretcher on the cross bar 25.

The stretcher having been mounted on the cross bar 25 as above described, one end of a clothes line wire 2| may be inserted in and through the holes I8, I9 and 20 whereupon a wrench 29 may be placed on either end of the square bar I1 whereby the bar I1 and tube I6 may be revolved in a counterclockwise direction to wind the line 2l on the tube I6 to stretch the line 2l. As the bar I1 and tube I6 are revolved the corners of the bar I1 and tube I6 are revolved, the corners of the bar I1 will raise the adjacent end of the ratchet plate 22 and as the rotation of the bar I1 continues the ratchet plate 22 will fall to its original position as shown in Fig. 6 to hold the bar I1 and tube I 6 against clockwise rotation and hold the line 2| in a stretched condition.

While the device as shown and described is probably the preferred form of the device, it is to be understood that such modications of the device may be employed as lie within the scope of the appended claims Without departing from the spirit and intention of the invention. Now having fully shown and described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a clothes line stretcher device of the kind described; said device having a U-shaped frame, and means in said frame for attaching the frame to a supporting element therefor, a winding reel, said reel comprising a round tubular element and a multisided bar pressed through the tube so that the corners vof the bar tightly engage the inside circular surface of the tube, said bar being longer than the tube, said tube being loosely positioned between the ends of the legs of the U-shaped frame, said multisided bar being revolvably carried in circular openings in the outer ends of the U-shaped frame and projecting beyond the outer faces of the legs of the said U-shaped frame, a ratchet plate, said ratchet plate being pivotally carried on the outside of one of said U-shaped frame legs and being engageable with the corner portions of said multisided bar for preventing the rotation of said bar and tube in one direction only.

2. In a clothes line stretcher device of the kind described; the structure defined in claim 1, said tubular element and multisided bar having registering holes therethrough to receive the end of a clothes line Wire as a means of first securing the wire to the winding assembly of the device and second to prevent possible turning of the multisided bar in the said tubular element.

HENRY MILTON MONTGOMERY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record 1n the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

